Universal clamp

Abstract

A universal clamp for an adjustable post includes a split base clamp mounted on a stationary supporting stud. An elongated channel in the form of a yoke including a rigid extension protruding through the split base clamp slidably supports a pair of opposed jaws adapted to engage the post. The channel is enclosed within a covering sleeve. One jaw is fixed with respect to the sleeve. The remaining jaw is operably movable through a lever operator and interposed over-center toggle plate. Manipulation of the lever operator tensions the channel and extension. This tightens the split base clamp. It also engages complementary radial serrations surrounding the extension on one end of the sleeve and on the split base clamp. The jaws are compressively moved toward one another through the toggle plate and interposed sleeve to grasp the post and thereby fix its position relative to the mounting stud.

I claim: 
     
       1. A universal clamp for adjustable positioning of a post relative to a stationary mounting stud, comprising: an elongated channel having a rigid extension protruding outward from one end;   an elongated sleeve having opposed rigid side walls movably fitted about said channel with said extension protruding outward from within the sleeve beyond a first sleeve end;   aligned openings formed through opposed sides of the sleeve and adapted to freely receive a post;   a first jaw positioned within said sleeve to one side of said openings, said first jaw being movable relative to said channel;   means fixing said first jaw to said sleeve;   a second jaw positioned within said sleeve to the remaining side of said openings in adjacent opposition to said first jaw, said second jaw being movable relative to said channel;   a base clamp having a split aperture adapted to receive a mounting stud between two integral clamp segments, said clamp segments having aligned apertures formed transversely through them;   said extension being received through the aligned apertures in said clamp segments;   means operably connecting the outer end of said extension and the outermost clamp segment;   first and second complementary outer surfaces formed about said extension on the first sleeve end and innermost clamp segment, respectively, in adjacent opposition to one another; and   operator means operably connected between the remaining end of said channel and said second jaw for tensioning said channel and extension to draw the two clamp segments of the base clamp and said first and second outer surfaces of the first sleeve end and innermost clamp segment toward one another in compression and for compressively moving said first and second jaws toward one another through the interposed sleeve to grasp a post received through the sleeve openings;   whereby the position of a post located between the jaws can be releasably fixed relative to the mounting stud by manipulation of said operator means.   
     
     
       2. A universal clamp as set out in claim 1 further comprising: yieldable biasing means operably connected between said first and second jaws for urging them apart.   
     
     
       3. A universal clamp as set out in claim 1 wherein said operator means comprises: a lever pivotally connected to said remaining end of said channel;   and an over-center toggle assembly interconnecting said lever and said second jaw.   
     
     
       4. A universal clamp as set out in claim 1 wherein said means operably connecting the outer end of said extension and the outermost clamp segment comprises a nut threadably engaged to said extension and bearing against the outermost clamp segment.